Date: February 17, 2012
It is a matter of great pleasure for all of us that the National Horticulture Board, in association with the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), has successfully introduced a specially designed, dedicated Horticulture Train between Bhusawal (Maharashtra) and Azadpur Wholesale Market for Fruits & Vegetables (New Delhi) recently which primarily carried banana produced in Jalgaon production clustrer of Maharashtra State. This marks the beginning of a new era of techno-economically viable long distance transport solution for fresh horticulture produce. NHB and CONCOR are now striving for introduction of the train for transportation of potatoes from production area in and around Agra to Vashi Market (Mumbai), Nasik and Bhusaval. In this manner, the horticulture train will be able to have core-cargo for its return journey too, which is necessary for economic viability of the project. The Horticulture Train has design speed of about 100 Km / Hour, may cover the route non-stop and reach the market destination in early morning so that opportunity of auction of produce on the day of arrival is not lost. Though, it primarily has insulated & ventilated hi-cube 20’ containers, some of the containers can be replaced by climate control containers as per demand.
It is worth mentioning further that the first horticulture train linking Vashi Wholesale Market in Mumbai with Azadpur Wholesale Market in New Delhi via production areas of Nashik, Jalgaon and Agra will be able to cater to the needs of a large number of farmers growing banana in Jalgaon cluster, grapes, pomegranate and sapota in Nasik- Thane-Pune cluster, potatoes in Agra-Aligarh-Shikohabad cluster, Apple and other temperate fruits, green peas, carrots in various parts of north Indian States. Based on success of this first horticulture train, it is proposed to increase the number of rakes and also introduce transport services from farm to warehouse / markets. Producers and traders from other parts of the country are, hereby, requested to assess their own requirement and let us know if they feel need for introduction of similar rail transport system in their area.
Is is also a matter of pleasure for us to state that NHB is also taking steps for getting certain horticulture produce notified under provisions of Warehouse Development Regulation Act 2007 and getting protocols for accreditation of cold storages put in place so that the benefits of Negotiable Warehouse Receipt is available to the producer farmers and traders of perishables. Draft Warehouse manual prepared in this regard has been displayed on this website and suggestions from stake-holders have been invited. I hereby, appeal to all of you to send your comments as early as possible so as to enable undersigned finalize recommendations of the Expert Committee headed by him in this regard.
With Best Wishes,
Yours sincerely
Bijay Kumar
Managing Director,
National Horticulture Board
